McLaren driver Lando Norris caused a collision that ended the race for his Australian teammate Oscar Piastri during the Singapore Grand Prix sprint race, prompting criticism and a subdued apology from Norris. The incident occurred on the final lap of the 20-lap sprint held on a wet track, as Norris attempted an ambitious inside overtake for fourth place.
The move came after Norris had closely followed Piastri throughout the race, with both drivers running near the front of the field. Meanwhile, Red Bull’s Max Verstappen claimed victory after Mercedes’ George Russell, who started strongly to lead early, spun and crashed into the wall on the second lap. Lewis Hamilton of Ferrari also produced a remarkable drive to climb from sixth to second, with teammate Charles Leclerc finishing third under pressure from the McLarens.
As the sprint neared its conclusion, Piastri was rapidly closing on Leclerc for a podium spot. However, Norris sought to gain an extra point by overtaking Piastri, who was running ahead. The attempt proved ill-fated; the two cars made contact, forcing Piastri into the wall and causing his retirement from the race. Norris, despite damage, managed to finish eighth, securing a single point.
The decision by Norris to make a risky move in pursuit of a marginal gain sparked consternation. McLaren had anticipated both drivers finishing closely in fourth and fifth place, which would have maximized the team’s points haul. The collision deprived Piastri of valuable championship points and raised questions about intra-team dynamics.
McLaren team principal Zak Brown expressed visible frustration following the incident. On team radio, Piastri calmly confirmed he was out of the race. Norris issued a brief apology saying he “didn’t want that to happen” and believed he was “fully alongside” but ran out of space. When questioned post-race, Norris declined to elaborate further, stating he preferred to review the incident first.
A subsequent analysis highlighted that Norris’s move did not meet the criteria for a safe overtake, effectively placing responsibility on him for the collision. Historically, Norris has been involved in aggressive manoeuvres against Piastri at the Singapore circuit, intensifying scrutiny over the drivers’ competitiveness within McLaren.
Despite the contentious finish, McLaren opted not to penalize Norris or instruct him to relinquish the position, a decision that further fueled tension between the teammates and within the Australian camp. The incident underscores ongoing challenges in managing intra-team rivalries amid a tightly contested Formula One championship.